Local News

Woman Rescued from Burning Car

ORANGE (CNS) - A 63-year-old woman suffered second- and third-degree burns in a vehicle fire on the Foothill Transportation (241) Tollway this afternoon and was rushed to a hospital in serious condition.

The vehicle was southbound on the tollway, approaching Santiago Canyon Road near unincorporated Orange about 2:30 p.m., when the driver noticed it had caught fire and pulled over, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.

A member of the military, dressed in combat fatigues, and other bystanders helped the driver get his wife out of the passenger seat, but not before she sustained burns to her legs, arms hands, back and face, Concialdi said.

The serviceman had a burn kit with him, so he was able to treat the woman with saline and bandages before paramedics arrived, Concialdi said.

The woman, whose name was not released, was taken to UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, he said.

The fire spread to nearby vegetation, but firefighters from Anaheim, Orange and the county quickly doused the flames, Concialdi said.